The COVID-19 Omicron variant seems to be less severe than other variants, but that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. Remaining unvaccinated may put you at a higher risk of infection.
This variant is highly contagious, and the likelihood of getting infected has increased substantially.
COVID-19 vaccine and shingles
Will the vaccine really help against Omicron?
Omicron has been estimated to be around 2.7-3.7 times more contagious than the Delta variant. Despite the virus being 20% less deadly, that is a rate of 370% higher rate of infection. Read more here.
The aging, immunocompromised, and the unvaccinated are the most threatened by Omicron.
There is still a great deal of unpredictability with the virus.
Statistics show that infectiousness is on the rise. The seven-day average for daily new cases has almost reached 820,000 cases. The number of deaths is smaller than expected, considering numbers from 18 months ago.
Greater access to vaccines can help people combat the virus when it enters their body.
Dr. Fauci is hopeful about what Omicron means for the pandemic
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